2020 Democratic nominee primer: Who is your pick?

With over 10 months to go until the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, we are starting to see a rapid culling of the primary herd. A crowded and chaotic field painstakingly plodded through the opening two presidential debates held this summer. Much like with natural selection only 10 would eventually make a cut for the third. As for the forsaken flock, a scattered few stubbornly still remain. But nothing less than divine intervention can spare them from a certain doom.

Let’s focus on our leading prospects here, more specifically the chosen ones that were selected for this advanced round of the contest. We take a deeper look at where they stand in a dogged race for the highly coveted nomination. In addition to evaluating every entrant on the list. Beyond that exactly what might be reasonable to expect as we count down to crunch time.

First we have the centrist and former Vice President Joe Biden. Also a seasoned ex-senator from Delaware who occupied that seat for six full terms. Although Biden presently paces the political pack, he is a tragically flawed prospect with a tenuous grip on the lead. Again he was caught falsifying accounts depicting important events that allegedly occurred in his past. By casting off any corresponding criticism Biden gives his countless critics added ammunition for use in the fight against him. After twice failing spectacularly in previous bids for the chief executive office, Biden is now learning another hard lesson. His main quality of experience in high stakes politics can equally play to his detriment.

Our #2 contender is the far left leaning and purported independent senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders. The populist protagonist with a penchant for socialism. Sanders is the senior among aspirants turning 78 today. The cranky collectivist aims to redistribute colossal sums of American wealth. Primarily to subsidize an array of government assistance programs chiefly under his command. Though Bernie has built a solid base, some believe the swanky life he evidently enjoys lies in clear contradiction to his often pious words. He will soon face a tricky job unifying the largely divided electorate of democrat voters.

Next is junior California Senator Kamala Harris at #4. We saw a stunning and unexpected rise to prominence following the break out performance in her 2020 debate debut. Since then, the relative upstart has wilted dramatically in a blazing summer heat. Plus her dubious record as that state’s Attorney General is a persisting point of contention for frenzied opponents. This combined with the fact she appears unable to actually pivot or adjust her game plan. Unless there is a calculated change of course, Harris may be in big trouble.

Holding steady at fifth is the South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Mayor Pete the youngest challenger at 37 and served our country with distinction as an elite Naval Intelligence Officer. Along with impressive military credentials, he is a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford and a graduate of Harvard University. The lone bidder who is openly gay, Pete is the most polished and well-spoken by a good margin while showing a quite remarkable intellect. That said he must fix a festering issue at home before anything else. Namely a weary and jaded police force struggling to preserve the precarious public safety. If he can effectively turn things around that would lend him the extra shot of credibility he sorely needs. Even so his political profile should simply continue to grow.

Closing the proverbial show are Beto O’Rourke, Julian Castro and Amy Klobuchar. Formerly a Congressman from Texas, Beto just can’t seem to connect with a larger audience. Has the novelty worn off? Once Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the Obama administration, Castro hasn’t really found his footing either. The San Antonio, Texas native presents powerful policies promoting radical social reform yet despite that isn’t able to sway the body politic. Last albeit never least of the bunch Senator Klobuchar of Minnesota. Barely meeting those rigorous requirements that were set for the upcoming stage, surely this oddly quaint candidate faces a steep climb ahead.

Jacob Ellis is a Michigan-based writer with a passion for crafting thoughtful, investigative content that goes beyond the noise of today's polarized mainstream media. Whether covering politics, sports or local issues, Jacob applies his admiration for storytelling and journalism to every word.